IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• MAY 4 - MAY 29- GRASSLANDS CRP SIGNUP #208 -
• AUGUST 12, 2026- SDRP - Supplemental Disaster Relief Program – Stage 1 and Stage 2 – application. NEW DATE – PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTENDED
• JULY 15, 2026 - Spring acreage reporting deadline. VISIT Farmers.gov for more information regarding deadlines and programs available through FSA and NRCS.
• CRP PRIMARY NESTING SEASON – March 15 – July 15. No grazing or contract management activities authorized. Grassland CRP contracts are exempt.

GRASSLANDS CRP SIGNUP

Grassland CRP signup 208 will be held from May 4, 2026, through May 29, 2026. Eligible land may be offered for enrollment during grassland CRP signup 208. In addition, CRP participants with an eligible CRP contract expiring September 30, 2026, may submit an offer for land enrolled under that contract, and, if accepted and approved, will have a grassland CRP contract beginning on October 1, 2026.

For grassland CRP signup 208, FSA will use the grassland CRP ranking factors to rank eligible offers for selection.

The rental rates for SU 208 are as follows:

• Kiowa - $10.00 per acre
• Cheyenne - $13.00 per acre
• Prowers - $11.00 per acre
• Lincoln - $10.00 per acre
• Crowley - $8.00 per acre
• Bent - $9.00 per acre

Rental rates are determined by the physical location of the land.

The 5 factors are –

At least 50 percent of more the land must be located within the map area for F3, F4, and F5 factors to apply. Points listed are the maximum points awarded, points can vary.

• F1 - Current and future use
  • F1a - 20 points for expiring CRP
  • F1b – 10 points for expiring CRP practice
• F3 – Maximizing Grassland Preservation
  • F3a - risk of conversion 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 points
  • F3b - national threat of conversion – 20 points
  • F3c – 15 year contract offered - 5 points
• F4 – Vegetation Cover – permanent native grasses, forbs, or legumes
  • Monoculture stand – 5 points
  • Existing stand of at least 2 native grass species- 20 points
  • Existing stand of at least 3 native grasses - 30 points
• F5 – Environmental Factors
  • F5a - current CRP wildlife zone – 15 points
  • F5b - State Grassland CRP zone - 15 points
  • F5c- Grassland CRP National Priority Zones
• F6 - Small Scale Livestock Initiative
• F7 – Cost - maximum of 25 points
  • F7a - maximum rental rate is less than $15.00
  • F7b – maximum rental rate voluntarily reduced

Ineligible Land

Ineligible land includes land:

• currently enrolled in an active EQIP contract
• with greater than 5 percent canopy tree cover
• under water
• not already established to a permanent cover.

To submit an offer, producers need to contact the administrative county for FSA programs. The land must have been owned for at least one year by the end of signup.

If a producer purchased land on May 29, 2025, or after the land is not eligible for signup. The land does not have to be hayed or grazed, it can be managed as a wildlife habitat.

When an eligible producer submits and offer, the offer is then ranked by the National Office and FSA will notify the producer of acceptance or rejection once the ranking is complete. For accepted offers, if the producer determines to continue with the offer, the offer will be sent to NRCS for conservation planning. NRCS will work with the producer to develop a grazing, haying or wildlife plan.

DROUGHT MONITOR

Prowers, Bent and Otero counties moved to a D3 – extreme drought designation this past week. Counties that have a D3 designation or greater on the drought monitor are eligible for emergency grazing of CRP at a 50 percent stocking rate reduction, due to the fact Colorado is in primary nesting season for CRP.  Producers interested in grazing CRP must contact FSA prior to any grazing taking place. Grazing CRP without authorization is a compliance issue and the contract could be terminated or have penalties assessed by the County Committee.

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FSA PROGRAM ANALYST POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Prowers County and Baca County Farm Service Agency each have a full-time permanent Program Analyst position open. Annual salary ranges from $36,464-$80,243 (CO-03 through CO-09) depending on the qualifications of the applicant. This position is located at the Prowers County FSA Office, 1501 S Main Street, Lamar, CO and at Baca County FSA Office, 27200 Hwy 287, Springfield, CO.

Apply online at www.usajobs.gov Job Announcement: FSACO-12946731-26-CO-AG and FSACO-12946759-26-CO-AG beginning April 27, 2026 through May 11, 2026. The entire announcement and all instructions can be found online.

For questions, please call Prowers County FSA Office at 719-336-3437 or Baca County FSA Office at 719-523-6251.

FSA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.